Site MapHelpFeedbackKey Terms
Key Terms
(See related pages)


chain mail  a flexible medieval armor made of interlinked metal rings
chalice  a goblet; in Christian liturgy, the Eucharistic cup
chanson de geste (French, "song of heroic deeds")  an epic poem of the Early Middle Ages
chivalry  a code of behavior practiced by upper-class men and women of medieval society
cloisonné (French, cloison, meaning "fence")  an enameling technique produced by pouring molten colored glass between thin metal strips secured to a metal surface; any object ornamented in this manner (see Figure 11.2)
common law  the body of unwritten law developed primarily from judicial decisions based on custom and precedent; the basis of the English legal system and that of all states in the United States with the exception of Louisiana
crenellations  tooth-shaped battlements surmounting a wall and used for defensive combat
cruciform  cross-shaped
fealty  loyalty; the fidelity of the warrior to his chieftain
feudalism  the system of political organization prevailing in Europe between the ninth and fifteenth centuries and having as its basis the exchange of land for military defense
fief  in feudal society, land or property given to a warrior in return for military service
guild  an association of merchants or craftspeople organized according to occupation
investiture  the procedure by which a feudal lord granted a vassal control over a fief
jongleur  a professional entertainer who wandered from court to court in medieval Europe
joust  a form of personal combat, usually with lances on horseback, between men-at-arms
keep  a square tower, the strongest and most secure part of the medieval castle (see Figure 11.14)
kenning  a two-term metaphor used in Old English verse
lord  any member of the feudal nobility who invested a vassal with a fief
mace  a heavy, spike-headed club used as a weapon in medieval combat
medieval romance  a tale of adventure that deals with knights, kings, and ladies acting under the impulse of love, religious faith, or the desire for adventure
moat  a wide trench, usually filled with water, surrounding a fortified place such as a castle (see Figure 11.14)
niello  a black sulfurous substance used as a decorative inlay for incised metal surfaces; the art or process of decorating metal in this manner
paten  a shallow dish; in Christian liturgy, the Eucharistic plate
primogeniture  the principle by which a fief was passed from father to eldest son
renaissance (French, "rebirth")  a revival of the learning of former and especially classical culture
serf  an unfree peasant
vassal  any member of the feudal nobility who vowed to serve a lord in exchange for control of a fief
zoomorphic  animal-shaped; having the form of an animal







The Humanistic Tradition, 5eOnline Learning Center

Home > Book 2, Chapter 11 > Key Terms